Pinoys flock to Ninoy grave on 31st death anniversary

Several Filipinos flocked to the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City early Thursday to pay respects to former Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. on his 31st death anniversary.

Some of the visitors wore Aquino's political color yellow and, lined up near the tomb of Aquino and his widow, the late former President Corazon Aquino, radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported.

Joggers, mga bumibisita sa Mla. Mem'l Park, nagsisidalawan na sa puntod ng mag-asawang Aquino. | via @VargasMannysen pic.twitter.com/ehywkMz1Z1

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 20, 2014

One visitor, Mrs. Hernandez of Parañaque, was among the first to visit the tombs. She brought a copy of a 1983 magazine featuring Mrs. Aquino.

Yellow flowers decked both Aquinos' tombs in the memorial park. The Aquinos' son, Benigno III, is the incumbent president.

The nation marks Thursday the 31st death anniversary of former Sen. Aquino, who was gunned down at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport on Aug. 21, 1983. The MIA has been renamed after him.

Aquino's assassination triggered a series of protests that led to the EDSA-1 revolt in 1986. The uprising catapulted Mrs. Aquino to the presidency.

Mrs. Aquino, who refused to extend her term and stepped down in 1992, died after a battle with colon cancer on Aug. 1, 2009. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News